Darkness and light

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. ‘I am the light of the world’, he said. ‘Whoever follows me will have the light of the life and will never walk in darkness.’ The Pharisees said to him, ‘Now you are testifying on your own behalf; what you say proves nothing’. ‘No’, Jesus answered, ‘even though I do testify on my own behalf, what I say is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. You do not know where I came from or where I am going.’ (verses 12-14)

Read John 8:1-20

As a group, the Pharisees had made up their minds about Jesus and now, despite what any one of them secretly thought might be true, it was too late to turn back. This pack of Pharisees was choosing to remain in darkness. The light of the world was right there in their midst but they chose not to see it. They preferred instead to remain in the cloistered security of their peer group, huddled together for strength, their backs turned wilfully from the truth. Like a pack of rats, they huddled together for strength and scurried resolutely from the light.

Hardness of heart, combined with the iron might of peer pressure, is a frustratingly difficult barrier to the gospel – one that even the Son of God died trying to crack.

If you seek the light you will surely find it. And if you seek darkness, it too you will surely find. Jesus is shining his light for you. Walk in his light.

Lord Jesus, shine in my heart. Send all darkness scurrying from your purifying beam. Lead me forever in the light of your path. Amen.

by Linda Macqueen, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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